OIA25-0860
23 February 2026
G Smith
[FYI request #33131 email].
Dear G Smith,
Thank you for your email of 4 December 2025 requesting information relating to the number
of food safety incidents notified to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) from 2021 to
2025. Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
All New Zealand food businesses are required to ensure the food they sell is safe and suitable for
consumers. Both food safety and suitability are defined in the Food Act 2014 (the Food Act). The
operator must comply with the Food Act. A requirement of the legislation is that required food
businesses are registered and regularly checked by an independent verifier appointed under the
Food Act.
If there is a food safety or suitability concern, the food business is supported to make changes and
put in place the necessary corrective actions to ensure the food they sell is safe and suitable. If the
food business does not put in place the necessary corrective actions, New Zealand Food Safety
(NZFS) can use enforcement tools to correct the situation. You can read more about NZFS’s
compliance and enforcement approach here:
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/running-a-
food-business/enforcement-food-act-2014
You requested:
Please supply the number of food safety incidents notified to MPI for the years
2021-2025, from the Ka Ora, Ka Ako school lunch programme
The safety of consumers, and, in this context, students, is regarded as the highest priority. In
all food compliance investigations, any immediate risks to public health are addressed first,
after which steps are taken to ensure that appropriate processes are established to prevent a
recurrence. Where required, regulatory action is taken promptly to ensure that suitable food
safety practices are implemented and maintained to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents.
Food Compliance Services within NZFS triages reported food safety complaints. Where a
potential breach of the Food Act 2014 is identified, a warranted Food Compliance Officer
undertakes an investigation. This includes working with the food business to determine the
cause of the issue and ensuring appropriate corrective actions are implemented and
monitored for effectiveness. Officers may exercise powers under the Food Act 2014 to
support compliance. At the conclusion of an investigation, appropriate enforcement action is
considered. Further information on enforcement is available at:
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-
business/running-a-food-business/enforcement-food-act-2014
Ministry for Primary Industries
Charles Fergusson Building
38-42 Bowen Street
PO Box 2526
Wel ington 6140, New Zealand
mpi.govt.nz
Since 2021 to the date of your request, there have been 65 investigation files. The table
below shows the number of investigation files per year related to the Ka Ora, Ka Ako
programme.
Calendar Year
Number of investigations
2021
3
2022
4
2023
6
2024
2
2025 (up to 4 December
50
2025)
The majority of the 50 investigations in 2025 occurred in terms 1 and 2 of the school year. In
each instance, NZFS Food Compliance Officers investigated, identified the cause of the
issue and worked with food businesses involved to put in place appropriate corrective actions
to prevent a recurrence. We closely monitor corrective actions to ensure they are completed
and there is no ongoing food safety issue.
Should you have any concerns with this response, I would encourage you to raise these with
MPI at
[email address]. Alternatively, you are advised of your right to
also raise any concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman. Contact details are: Office of the
Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143 or
at [email address]. Yours sincerely,
Jenny Bishop
Director, Food Risk Management
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